THE crowds, three and four deep, stood on elevated ground just beyond the cavernous bunker on the first fairway, binoculars at the ready, not really knowing what to expect. Back on the tee, Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman were set to embark on a mission largely alien to them at Augusta National fighting to make the cut in the 61st Masters.

The pairing of the Bear and the Shark would have done justice to a climactic battle on Sunday afternoon. On five over par, however, they had now become no more than an interesting side show, temporarily at least.

For Nicklaus, there was the nagging feeling that his game simply had very little to offer. But in his favourite arena, there was always the possibility of rekindling fruitful memories.

Norman, on the other hand, was more than content not to dwell on past Masters, certainly not the recent ones. And he would have welcomed the company of a fellow resident of Palm Beach and one of the first people to phone him after his disaster of last year.

Typically, the Shark soon had the crowd on their toes when a glorious short iron approach came to rest no more than three inches from the first hole. A tap in birdie. The Bear, meanwhile, made a solid, par start, which seemed to please his entourage.

Augusta during the Masters is very much a family occasion for the Nicklaus brood. Barbara, who has been writing a column for the Augusta Chronicle this week was in the gallery, smartly turned out in a canary yellow jacket and black slacks and with the familiar golden bear ring - as in solid gold - on her left, little finger.

The only Masters she has missed in her marriage to Jack was in 1963 when their second son, Steven, was born. And yesterday was Steven's 34th birthday. He was there with his wife, Krista as was the youngest son, Michael. And, of course, Jackie was caddying for dad, as he did when the great man captured the last of his six titles here in 1986.

For the golfing Philistine, celebrity spotting is easy at Augusta where all clubhouse passes carry the bearer's name.

So, was the Shark about to stage one of his famous charges? Sadly not. In fact the charge, such at it was, lasted no more than one hole. He was back to five over par after the long second, where he was bunkered off the tee and later three putted from off the back for a bogey six.

For his part, Nicklaus started with four, careful pars before carding his first bogey at the fifth which, ironically, he eagled a few years ago. Barbara watched the three putt and turned away resignedly: she had been long enough around tournament golf to know its ups and downs.

Meanwhile, the enthusiasm of a major fan was undiminished. "Jack's using a new driver today," gushed the elderly man with the badge. It informed us he was a member of "Jack's Pack", who sounded like rather unruly successors to "Arnie's Army".

Over the years, I've noticed that the short sixth seems to hold a special appeal for Augusta galleries. Some might attribute this to the unpredictability of its treacherous green. I take the view, however, that it has more to do with the proximity of a concession outlet, which allows American golf fans to engage in their two favourite activities - eating and drinking.

Having been rendered decidedly edgy by the sound of an ice cream eating neighbour at this hole on Thursday, I tarried only long enough yesterday to see Norman make a splendid birdie. With the pin up on the ledge on the right, his right to left, 12 footer hung tantalisingly on the lip before dropping to tumultuous cheers.

Another charge, maybe in earnest this time? Hardly. After three mundane pars, the Shark remained one under par for the round as they departed the ninth green. That was where Nicklaus made as good a bogey as he is very likely to make.

From 39 Masters challenges, he came here knowing what to expect of Augusta's greens. And he said after yesterday's round: "I love the course when the greens are hard as a rock. Straightaway, they eliminate half the field and I always felt I could handle them better than anyone else. The greens are the only defence this course has got.

Still, there were obvious signs of frustration as he stood hands on hips on the ninth green, watching his downhill putt gather pace as it swept past the hole. And on it went, down the front and 20 yards off the green. Allowing himself a moment to calm down, Nicklaus pitched from there high onto the green.

The ball started coming back down the slope once more but this time it stopped, eight feet left of the target. From there, as if to prove that his nerve was as steady as ever, he eased the ball across the slope and into the hole for a marvellous five.

It was enough to keep the crowds with them. Asked if he ever played a really quiet game of golf, Nicklaus replied: "Yes, but I'd much prefer to have 10,000 people watching me. That's our livelihood; that's our game. To be honest, I wouldn't enjoy coming up the 18th here with 50 people watching me, knowing that there were 20,000 people watching somebody else. That's not much fun."

Meanwhile, though the players frequently talked throughout the round, it was to his son Jackie that Nicklaus turned when Norman dumped his tee shot into the water at the 12th. "I thought it was a terrible swing," said the Bear, "the worst he made all day."

Norman went on to find water again at the long 15th. "By that stage, I got the impression he had had enough," said Nicklaus. But the Bear was far from finished.

When he came down to breakfast at their Augusta house yesterday morning, his wife had stuck a message on the fridge door. "Go Jack!" it urged. Though it took quite a while to sink it, the response, when it came, was suitably dramatic.

A six foot putt found the target for a birdie at the 14th and, from a five iron second shot at the next, he was left with a 25 footer for eagle. "You've got to hole that one," urged Jackie. "I promised Steve you'd shoot 70 for his birthday." And the putt, straight for the right half of the hole went down.

Three holes later, Nicklaus faced an uphill 20 footer for a birdie at the last. "This one's for Steve's 70," reminded Jackie. And dad - "I'm trying to figure out how I can get down in two" - duly obliged for a back nine of 32, a total of 147 and survival.

For the Shark, however, the closing holes held only misery. Further bogeys at the 16th and 17th led to a 74 and 151. Back at the outset, Norman looked to be favourite to win this fascinating duel, but not for the first time, the resilience of the Bear, proved to be decisive.